What is PTP/IP?
The protocol that lets a camera talk to another device wirelessly over a network.
By the CloudTether team · Updated
PTP/IP (Picture Transfer Protocol over IP) is the standard that lets a camera talk to another device over a network — the wireless equivalent of the USB protocol cameras use over a cable.
Why it matters for tethering
When you tether over Wi-Fi, CloudTether speaks PTP/IP to the camera: it discovers the camera on the network, opens a session, and receives each photo as you shoot.
In practice
- Many Canon, Nikon, Sony and Fujifilm bodies support PTP/IP over their own Wi-Fi access point or a shared network.
- USB tethering uses the same protocol family over a cable — faster and more reliable.
- You don't configure PTP/IP yourself; CloudTether handles discovery and the session.
Prefer USB when you can — Wi-Fi (PTP/IP) is the convenient option when a cable isn't practical.